Medical devices are an essential part of the human healthcare system. However, one of the major
issues associated with their use is the development of medical device related infections (MDRIs)
following bacterial colonisation and subsequent biofilm formation on the surface of the device.
Different medical device coatings have been designed to help inhibit biofilm development.
Antibacterial coatings include those that are contact active, antibacterial drug eluting or those with
altered surface energies. The aim of this research was to develop strategies, which can be used
to prevent the initial attachment and proliferation of microorganisms on biomaterial surfaces.
Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was used to investigate the relationship between various
drug physicochemical parameters and drug release from different hydrogel networks, which can
be used alone or as a coating on medical devices such as urinary catheters. Models generated
from this analysis were capable of accurately predicting the time for specific percentage release of
drugs not used to derive the original models.
An antibacterial quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) with thiol functionality was covalently
immobilised on the surface of PVC. This created an anti-infective surface capable of preventing
the adherence of two clinically important pathogens.
A series of nature inspired slippery liquid infused porous surfaces were fabricated on the surface
of PVC using textured silver coatings infused with different ionic liquids. As well as altering the
PVC surface energy microbial adherence studies showed these materials were also capable of
reducing, or in some cases preventing bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation.
The proposed techniques and materials developed in this thesis could be extremely useful in the
fight against MDRIs.